Jacquelyn Eva (Del Rosario) Marchand

Jacquelyn “Jack” Eva Marchand (Del Rosario), age 33, born, June 17, 1983 in Manila, Philippines, at rest on May 10, 2017.

Preceded in death by her grandmother, Barbara Taylor; grandfathers, Leonardo Del Rosario and Dennis Prince Sr.; and her faithful canine companions Cedric and Raider

Left to celebrate Jack’s memory are her husband, Ryan Marchand of Sterling, IL to whom she was committed to since March 2004 and married in February 2009; sister, Jennifer Prince of Seneca, IL; father, Charles Taylor Jr. of Plainfield, IL; grandparents Charles Sr. and Roberta Taylor of Joliet, IL; mother, Joy Taylor of Crest Hill, IL; father, Tim Prince of Peoria, IL; grandmothers, Leonarda Escubil of Manila of the Philippines, Karen Prince of Bourbannais, IL, and Sheila Woods of Joliet, IL; as well as numerous friends.

Jack graduated John C. Birdlebough High School (Phoenix, NY) then earned a bachelor’s degree at Illinois State University (Normal, IL).  She was a standout athlete in golf, taekwondo and especially fencing.  She enjoyed watching classic films with Grandma Barb and television comedies with Ryan, listening to music, watching sports (particularly baseball - The Chicago Cubs and Anthony Rizzo) and hockey, making delicious home cooked meals, sewing and knitting scarfs and growing a prosperous garden.

Jack was a terrific person who was beloved by those whose lives she touched.  She had a charismatic personality and was a selfless individual.  Her exceptional judge of character helped her choose a few close friends who rewarded her with happy relationships. She instilled in people, especially her husband Ryan, a calm manner and taught them the importance of patience.

Jack graciously gave to others. Whether it was her personality, time, or objects, she expected little in return from her good nature. She had a knack for picking up the most minor of details; it made her the gift whisperer.

“She walks in beauty, like the night, of cloudless climes and starry skies.”  Lord Byron

Jack was extremely independent and never wanted to settle down growing up, until she flashed forward to a time when she was elderly and happily married to Ryan…she took a chance on a nerd.

A quick wit on her feet, Jack perfectly complemented Ryan’s analytical nature.

Jack loved the elder generation, particularly grandmothers Barb, Elsie, Karen, Ruth, and Lucine.  2009 was quite a challenging year for her, time spent with an extremely sharp 86-year-old Elsie in the summer, allowing for a strong bond and appreciation for her.

After graduating with a communications and marketing bachelor’s degree, Jack decided to take nursing classes to help her Grandma Barb during the final stretch of her life.  She rated as the best nursing student in patient care in the medical setting from her combination of bedside manner and intelligence. Health challenges precluded her from completing her nursing degree.

Jack had tremendous mothering skills, her dog Raider lived to 16+ years of age, but her favorite was the dog from Ryan’s childhood, Cedric. In the first two years of courtship, she decided the best reason to visit during summer break was the lovable Cedric.  Jack was Cedric’s favorite, whenever she visited, he would let out a bustling howl, he stopped howling for Ryan when Jack entered the picture.  She always knew how to hit his sweet spot, petting the bald fur on his flabby belly.  She thought about him every day, even though he had been gone for more than a decade.

Like Garfield, Jack loved lasagna and taking naps, as well all things green in color.

Jack dealt with health challenges since day one of her life.  She was born severely premature in the summer of 1983 in Manila, Philippines.  In February of 2014, she became septic from viral pneumonia and was a code blue for an hour.  She spent 45 days in the intensive care unit, then 45 additional hospital days before coming home.  She fought to return to relatively normal health for more than a year and a half.  Over the final year or so of her life, she gradually dealt with an advanced recurrence of her brain injury from 2014, white matter clouded her brain and caused her to suffer from encephalopathy.

Jack and Ryan’s last words to each other: “I love you babe.”

The sorrow and emptiness of Jack’s loss is indescribable, although her sister Jennifer gives a fitting tribute:

God saw you getting tired

and a cure was not to be

so he put his arms around you

and whispered, “Come to Me”

With tearful eyes we watched you

and saw you pass away

and although we love you dearly

we could not make you stay

A golden heart stopped beating

hard working hands at rest

God broke our hearts to prove to us

He only takes the best.

A celebration of Jack’s life will begin on Saturday, May 27, 2017 with a memorial visitation at Tezak Funeral Home, 1211 Plainfield Road, Joliet from 12:00 p.m. until the time of service to be held in the funeral home chapel at 5:00 p.m. Cremation rites have been accorded.